Wine: Production Potential - High Level Group on Vine Planting Rights

Wine: Production Potential - High Level Group on Vine Planting Rights

The High Level Group (HLG) serves as a forum of discussion to assess different aspects of the functioning of the transitional planting rights regime in specific Member States and regions, as well as the effects of the end of the regime for the wine sector and wine market

Background and objectives

On 19 January 2012 Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian Cioloş announced publicly the decision to establish a High Level Group (HLG) on vine planting rights.

This decision followed the concerns expressed by a large majority of wine-producing Member States (MS), several European Parliament (EP) MEPs and certain sectorial organisations, related to the non-extension of the transitional planting rights regime at EU level beyond 31 December 2015.

The aim of the HLG is to organize a forum of discussion to assess different aspects of the functioning of the transitional planting rights regime in specific Member States and regions, as well as the effects of the end of the regime for the wine sector and wine market.

Composition

The HLG is composed of representatives of all 27 MS as well as of key stakeholder organisations at European level:

COPA, COGECA, ECVC (all three representing farmers)

EFOW (wines with geographical indication)

FoodDrinkEurope (industry)

CELCAA (wine traders)

Meetings

Four meetings, chaired by the Commission's Director General for Agriculture and Rural Development, were held during 2012: on 19 April, 6 July, 21 September and 14 December. Three observers from the EP's secretariat, the Council's secretariat and Croatia were also present.

The HLG received permanent contributions from the key stakeholder groups in the EU wine sector during the meetings. Furthermore, the HLG received valuable contributions from invited academic and professional experts, MS representatives and DG Agriculture and Rural Development.

Issues

The following issues were addressed by the HLG:

the current functioning of the planting rights regime at EU and MS levels;

the effects of the end of the planting rights regime for the wine sector and market;